Gate



March 21, 1961 R. G. scHlNDLER 2,975,536

GATE

Filed oct. 16, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 wf# z4 E Raymann fc//ya//efINVENTOR.

Mardi 21, 1961 R. G. SCHINDLER 2,975,536

GATE

Filed Oct. 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United Sees Patent O GATE RaymondG. Schindler, 9600 Old Katy Road, Houston, Tex.

Filed Oct. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 846,941

'1 Claim. (Cl. '39 87) This invention relatesto gates for fences, andmore particularly to a gate for metal fences of the mesh or chain-linktype. l

The invention finds particular utility in connection with fences whichare constructed entirely of metal having metal posts and rails uponwhich a woven or chainlink mesh is supported. In the construction offences of this type it is often desirable to provide gates constructedof the same materials and which present a uniform appearance andstructure to the fence.

Heretofore it has been customary, in constructing gates for fences of`this kind to provide a gate frame of rectangular shape having upper andlower horizontal rails a'nd vertical end frame members which areconnected together at the corners by means of corner fittings and uponwhich the mesh of the fence is mounted by means of vertical orhorizontal rods threaded through the openings of the mesh and connectedat their ends to the corner fittings to secure the mesh in place in theframe. The corner fittings and mesh securing rods in gates of this kind,as customarily constructed heretofore, have usually been connectedtogether by welding or bolting, which involves a largecxpenditure oftime and labor, and the use of i gate having side and end rails `andcorner fittings which are constructed to be easily assembled to form aframe, and also having means for securing a Wire or chain link mesh tothe frame, which means also serves to secure the parts together. p

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate having a frameincluding corner fittings which are interchangeable and tie rods whichmay be positioned horizontally or vertically `to secure the cornerfittings together and which also serve as securing means for a meshwhich covers the-frame.

A further object of the invention is`the provision of '2,975,536Patented Mar, '21, 1961 ceN a corner fitting of the gate of theinvention and one way in which the fitting is used; p

Figure 3 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a cornerfitting of the gate showing the structure of the fitting and the tie rodused with the same and illusiti-ating the manner in which the parts maybe assembled, and

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 showing the fitting witha tie rod fitted in place thereon and the manner in which the fittingand tie rod coact to secure the parts together.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail the invention isdisclosed herein for purposes of illustration in connection with its usein metal fences of conventional construction having upright metal posts10 and 12 which support a metallic mesh 14, it being understood that thegate of the invention is capable of application also to fences ofvarious kinds. p

The gate of the invention comprises a frame of generally rectangularshape having top and bottom rails or side frame members 16 and 1S,respectively, and end frame members 20 and 22, whose ends are fittedinto corner fittings 24 at the corners of the frame. The side and endframe members may conveniently be of tubular formation;

Each of the corner fittings 24 is of generally tubular l 4constructionand of angle shape, having the tubular pora gate which is of simpledesign and rugged construction and which may be economicallymanufactured.

The above and other important objects and 'advantages of the inventionAmay best be understoodfrom the following detailed description,constituting a specification of fthe same, when considered inconjunction with the annexed drawings, whereini Figure 1 is a frontelevational view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the gate of .theinvention showing the `same mounted on a fence; t

Figure 2 is a perspective View, partly brokenwaway and partly incross-section and on an enlarged scale showing Y bers in abutment withthe stops 40, when the gate is astions or arms 26 and 2S, which areconnected together at right angles to form sockets into which the endsof the side and end frame members may be extended in assembling thegate.

The tubular portions of the corner fittings may conveniently be ofrectangular shape in cross-section or may be of some other shape such ascircular, depending upon the cross-sectional shape of the side and endframe members with which the tting is to be used.

Each of the corner fittings is provided with a flat inner gusset or web30, positioned parallel to the axes of the arms 34 and 36, and which isVprovided with overturned or bent marginal portions 32 and 34 formingslots 36 and 38, positioned in parallel relation to and opening towardthe arms 28 and 26, respectively, in spaced relation thereto.

The corner fittings may conveniently be formed of metal by casting, andmay be provided with internal projections or lugs 40, as shown in Figure2, located inside of the tubular arms 26 and 28, spaced inwardly fromthe open ends of the arms to serve as stops to limit the distance towhich the ends of the side and end frame members may be inserted in thearms. The corner fittings are adapted to be connected together by tierods such as those indicated at 42, which may extend vertically at eachend of the gate, or similar tie rods such as that shown at 44 in dottedlines in Figure 3 which extend horizontally between the corner fittingsat the top and. atthe bottom of the gate. The tie rods may take the formof fiat metal bars formed with side notches l46 near each end. The tierods are of a width somewhat less. than the distance between bottomsofthe slots 36, 38 and the adjacent sideV walls of the arms 26, 28, andthe thickness of the tie rods is slightly less than the width of theslots 36and 38, to permit the tie rods to be inserted into the slots toengage the overturned portions 32, 34 with the tie rods in the notches46 to interlockingly connect the tie rods and corner fittings.

By making the end frame members 20 and 22 and the vertical tie rods 42of proper length, with the notches 46 of thetie rods properly located,it will be apparent that the portions 34 of the corner fittings will beengaged in the notches 46 with the' ends of the end frame meme sembled,so that the corner fittings will be securely held lrails at convenientlyspaced intervals. .,zontal tie rods 44 are employed instead of thevertical tie horizontal tie rods 44, as an alternative way of securingthe parts together. Y 1

The tie rods y42 are .threaded through the wire mesh 148, along thevertical margins thereof to stretch the mesh in place in the frame ofthe gate, the mesh being attached to the upperl and lower rails 16 and418 by any convenient means, such as wire loops 50' surrounding the Whenthe horirods 42, the tie rods 44 are similarly threaded or loopedthrough the upper and lower marginal portions of the mesh 48 to stretchthe mesh in place in the frame.

Additionally, the tie rods may be secured to the frame members, as bymeans of clips or straps 52 of any conventional design.

The gate is provided with upper and lower hanger ele- `mentsV 54 and 55,of conventional design, clamped to the end frame member 20 and theadjacent tie rods 42. These .hanger elementsV `being engageable withsuitable vangle bolts 56 and 58, carried by the fence post 10 to supportthe gate for horizontal swinging movement. The gate may be v providedwith the usual latchmechanism 60 releasably engageable with the fencepost 12 to hold the gate closed.

1 It will be apparent that the invention constructed as described above,provides a boltless gate, which is easily The invention is disclosedherein in connection with a certain specific embodiment of the same, butit will be understood that this is intended by way of illustration only,and that various changes can be made in the construction and arrangementof the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claim. l v Y Having thus clearly shown anddescribed the invention, what is claimed as newV and desired to secureby Letters Patent is:

A gate comprising side and end frame members, corner fittings formedwith portions into which the ends of the members may be inserted at thecorners ofthe gate to form a generally rectangular frame, tie rodspositioned in the frame along two opposite ones of said members,interengageable means on the tie rods and ttings positioned ininter-engagement holding the ttings on the ends of said two oppositeones of said members and a `wire mesh positioned in the frame andconnected to the tie rods to hold the fittings on the opposite ends ofthe other two opposite ones of said members.

References Cited in the le of this patentL UNITED STATES PATENTS 811,493Great- Britain Apr. 8, 1959

